Little Women

The semi-autobiographical novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott captures the experiences of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they navigate their formative years against the backdrop of the Civil War. While their father, a devoted minister, is away serving in the conflict of war, the sisters reside with their beloved mother, affectionately known as Marmee. The narrative chronicles the journey of Josephine "Jo" March, the spirited and ambitious protagonist, as she matures from childhood to adulthood while focusing on themes related to love, familial bonds, and the relentless pursuit of one's dreams. Alcott, whose novel's portrayal of strong, independent female characters challenged traditional gender roles, never saw herself as a writer. With Alcott's family experiencing financial hardship, she took on various jobs to help support the family from an early age and pursued writing to earn income. Encouraged by her father and a publisher named Thomas Niles, she began to write short stories before creating the two volumes books Little Women and Good Wives.

At the beginning of her writing journey, Alcott adopted various pseudonyms to craft her narratives, producing vivid and sometimes sensational short stories and novels. These works, driven by a sense of urgency to provide for her family, often contained elements of drama and intrigue. Her first book, Little Women, garnered overwhelming praise, particularly from its most discerning critics—young girls who resonated deeply with its themes and characters. The chemistry among the cast of sisters, featuring Tyler Meredith (Jo), Janyce Caraballo (Meg), Yourtana Sulaiman (Amy), or one of my favorite actors, Demetra Dee as Beth, felt authentic and relatable to Alcott's desire to illuminate each sister's unique personality traits. The men, John Drea (Laurie) and Erik Hellman, as John/Friedrich, added to the joy of this surprisingly enthralling production. Tyler Meredith provided an impressive performance as Louisa May Alcott's pseudonym, Jo, and her blossoming friendship with Laurie, played brilliantly by Drea, is vividly striking; it evolves into a charming and bittersweet romance that is both heartwarming and curiously apprehensive, creating a compelling subplot that resonates with audiences.

I wasn't impressed with the scenic and stage design, which may have sought to provide a visionary look into Alcott's impoverished lifestyle. Still, it came off as lifeless and scenically drab— needing to adapt the Northlight circular stage for more picturesque views. Omitting having an actor to play the character of Aunt March, powerfully played by Meryl Streep, by using a Sunbonnet perched on a Victorian Flounced skirt rolling garment stand would be considered blasphemous by the March family. A few bucks, here and there, could solve this.

My knowledge of playwright Lauren Gunderson's body of work is limited. Nevertheless, I had the opportunity to experience two of her plays, The Wickhams and The Book of Will. Both captivated me with their engaging storytelling and lively characters. Gunderson's unique creative writing style impressively draws you into her plays, particularly this production of Little Women, which I found equally enjoyable and compelling. Chicago's accomplished Cuban-American director, Georgette Verdin, brings an enchanting touch of humor to Alcott's adaptation, playfully weaving it through the fabric of the production, complementing the central narrative of Louisa May Alcott's classic story, which explores the lives of the four March sisters as they journey through adolescence, searching for love and their places in society. Alcott died in 1888 and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the burial place for another famous writer, Washington Irving, who wrote The Legend of Sleep Hollow and its infamous ghost, the Headless Horseman.

The Christmas season brings Louisa May Alcott's Little Women to life, telling the story of family hardship and love, and is a wonderful Christmas treat for the family.

⭐⭐⭐

Northlight Theatre

The World Premier of Louisa May Alcott's

LITTLE WOMEN

Adapted by Lauren Gunderson

From the novel by Louisa May Alcott

Directed by Associate Director Georgette Verdin

November 29 - January 5, 2025

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